Hat protector



E. N.. DEHNE HAT PROTECTOR Feb. 17, 1925.

' Filed Aug. 2, 1923 Patch Feb. 17, 1925.

aranr or ELMA N. DEHNE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAT PROTECTOR.

Application filed August 2, 1923. Serial No. 655,211.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMA N. DEHNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Hat Protector, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a hat protector and has particular reference to a protector which is adapted for main protecting hats from rain, dust, dirt and the like.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a hat protector composed of thin flexible waterproof material folded into a plurality of longitudinally extending pleats and thereafter folded into a small compact package for convenient carrying and which can also be dispensed from a vending machine in a folded sealed package a if desired.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a hat protector which is simple in construction and which can be easil and quickly applied upon either a lady s or gentlemans hat to protect it from injury by rain and which, when applied, will remain in proper position upon the hat and protect itfrom being blown away by the wind.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a hat protector which can be manufactured easily and cheaply, and which can be sold cheaply so as to make a convenient article of commerce, so that the purchase thereof may always be readily accomplished for emergency service, as for protecting a hat from rain and the like.

These and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and in which-- Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the hat protector in position upon a hat;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the hat protector in open position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hat protector in a folded package; and

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view showing the end retaining members in position through the folded pleatportions of the hat protector.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, and in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, a hat protector 10 is shown in position upon a hat 11, the hat protector being composed of a thin flexible waterproof rectangular shaped piece of material folded along straight parallel lines in a plurality of folds or accordion pleats 12 and into a straight fiat strip. The folds or pleats are gathered together at each of the ends 13 and 14 and held in position by a fastening member 15, preferably formed of elastic material, although a staple or clip may be used in place of the elastic if desired. One end of the elastic 16 is fastened to the outermost fold or pleat 17 of the hat protector 10 by means of a strap 18 pasted, or otherwise secured to the protector and extends through a hole 19 formed transversely of the pleats and centrall thereof to the opposite edge portion 20 w ere it is fastened to the said edge 20 by means of a strap 21 similar to that described at the op posite side of the protector.

The opposite edges of the sheet in the direction of the folds are free and unconfined, so that the folded straight fiat strip may be opened to the position shown in each of Figures 1 and 2 and when opened forms a saucer-like hat protector (Figure 1), which provides space into which the hat is fitted, and that the rear edge 22 of the protector 10, by reason of the elastic 15, is pulled down underneath the marginal edge of the hat and together with the forward edge 23 of the protector, which is also folded down underneath the forward edge of the hat, holds the hat protector securely in osition upon a hat and the elastic end mem ers enables the hat protector to cover a variety of different sized hats and also can be used with equal facility on either a ladys or gentlemans hat, particularly if the hat is of a sailor or stiff brim type.

In case additional security is desired, I provide a tying cord 24 at one side thereof which is secured in any approved manner to the folded end 13 of the hat protector and a second tying cord 25, the cords 24 and 25 having free ends which are passed under the chin of the wearer and tied together so as to prevent the hat protector from blowing olf'the hat of the wearer.

In order to provide for easily dispensing and easy handling of the hat protector in a package, I prefer to fold it as shown in Figure 3 and in which the hat protector is pulled into a long narrow strip formed by pulling outward on the end portions 13 and 14 so the pleats are in close formation and folding the ends 13 and 14 together and thereafter folding the strip upon itself and passing a binding strip 26 there-around, which holds the hat protector in a unitary package easy for handling and also for dispensing from a vending machine if desired, and also for convenient carrying, ready to be unfolded and put into instant use if desired by the wearer.

It will thus be understood that I provide a hat protector which, when desired to be used, is opened by tearing the binding folder 26 loose and opening the protector into the narrow strip and thereafter grasping the forward edge 2-3 and the rear edge 22 the protector is pulled open into a saucer-like formation which can be easily placed over the hat and which is held in position by the elastic members 15 or which can be securely tied in position upon the head of the wearer by the tying straps 24 and 25.

While I have described-more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a hat protector consisting of a sheet of flexible material folded along straight parallel lines in accordion pleats and into a straight flat strip, the ends of the pleats at each end of the folded strip being secured together, and the opposite edges of the sheet in the direction of the folds being free and unconfined.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a he; protector consisting of a sheet of flexible material folded along straight parallel lines in accordion pleats and into a straight flat strip, the ends of the pleats at each end of the folded strip being secured together, the opposite edges of thesheet in the direction of the folds being free and unconfined, and a chin guard having its ends secured to the respective ends of the folded strip- 3. A hat protector composed of a substantially rectangular shaped sheet of flexible material folded into a plurality of accordion shaped pleats in its longitudinal direction and elastic retaining members securing together the respective ends of the pleats.

4. A hat protector composed of a substantially rectangular shaped sheet of flexible material folded along parallel. lines into a plurality of accordion shaped pleats, the said protector bein gathered together at each of its ends an elastic retaining members secured to the marginal edges of the said member at each of the ends of the said protector.

5. A hat protector composed of a substantially rectangular shaped sheet of flexible material folded along arallel lines into a plurality of accordion s a. ed pleats and gathered together at each 0 its ends and elastic retaining -members secured to the outer pleats at each of the ends and extend- .ing through the centers of the said pleats from side to side of the folded ends.

6. A hat protector composed of a substantially rectan ular shaped sheet of flexible material fol ed along parallel lines into a plurality of accordion shaped pleats, the said protector bein athered together at each of its ends an e astic retaining members secured to the marginal edges of the folded ends of the said hat protector and extending from side to side of the said end portions through holes formed centrally of the said pleats and retaining straps secured to the ends of the said elastic members and to the outermost pleat of the folded end portion.

7. A hat protector composed of a substantially rectan lar shaped sheet of flexible material folfe d along parallel lines into a plurality of accordion shaped pleats and gathered together at each of its ends, elastic retaining members secured to the outer pleats at each of the ends and extending through the centers of the said pleats from side to side of the folded ends, and a pair of tying straps secured to the folded end portions of the said protector adapted to be tied under th-a chin of the wearer.

Si ned at Chicago, Illinois, this 31st day of ay, 1923.

ELMA N. DEHNE. 

